No one from the dopefiend side of the fence has so far asked Barack Obama about his plans for The War On Drugs and if he plans to declare an armistice. That’s probably as it should be. The Republicans have more than enough turds to hurl, and too much time would be wasted by Obama denying the quota of damned lies, lies, and distortions that he’s soft on drugs. Only after he’s won the election should Barack’s feet be put to the fire as to when he intends stopping the insanity. Just to remind us of the extent of the insanity, Munz has sent over this story by Steven Wishnia which details the positive economic impact that legal marijuana could have on local and national economies.
"If marijuana were legal but taxed like alcohol and tobacco, how much money could it bring in to cash-strapped state governments?
One 2006 study called cannabis the top cash crop in the nation, worth more than corn and wheat combined. It was the leading crop in 12 states, outstripping grapes in California and tobacco in North Carolina, and one of the top three in 18 others, coming in just behind apples in Washington and cotton in Georgia. So with states facing massive deficits, could reefer revenues help?
The answer is unclear, but it could be lucrative for governments, especially when combined with the savings from ending prohibition. As the U.S. marijuana market is illegal, there are no sales figures. Estimates of its size range from $10.5 billion a year to $113 billion. But three studies done by economists and policy analysts say ganja taxes could bring in anywhere from $2.4 billion to $31.1 billion in revenue, depending on how big the sales really are. About one-third of that would go to the states." (Click for the whole story.)
The secret word is Solvency
"If marijuana were legal but taxed like alcohol and tobacco, how much money could it bring in to cash-strapped state governments?
One 2006 study called cannabis the top cash crop in the nation, worth more than corn and wheat combined. It was the leading crop in 12 states, outstripping grapes in California and tobacco in North Carolina, and one of the top three in 18 others, coming in just behind apples in Washington and cotton in Georgia. So with states facing massive deficits, could reefer revenues help?
The answer is unclear, but it could be lucrative for governments, especially when combined with the savings from ending prohibition. As the U.S. marijuana market is illegal, there are no sales figures. Estimates of its size range from $10.5 billion a year to $113 billion. But three studies done by economists and policy analysts say ganja taxes could bring in anywhere from $2.4 billion to $31.1 billion in revenue, depending on how big the sales really are. About one-third of that would go to the states." (Click for the whole story.)
The secret word is Solvency
Meanwhile on the yellow brick road to Kabul..
ReplyDelete“If these foreigners really care about the people of Afghanistan, then why do they destroy our crops; why do they deprive us from the only source of our livelihood, without providing us with any alternative? Is this fair?”
Local leader, Kama District, Nangarhar Province, May 2006
Ah, poor innocent.
If the Senlis "Poppy for Medicine" project were introduced, "The entire production process,from seed to medicine tablet, could thus be controlled by the village and all economic profits from medicine sales would remain in the village, triggering economic diversification."
And we wouldn't want crop-spraying DynCorp et alia to lose those $700 million contracts even if the do fail miserably to zap the poppies.
Dear me. Have just seen Ike has hit Texas.
George, George, watch what you do to Allah's children.
The more you look at the drug war, the less sense it makes.
ReplyDeletehttp://godistotallyastoner.ytmnd.com
ReplyDeleteDude...I am soooooo HIGH right now
ReplyDeleteI guess it is stoner Sunday.
ReplyDelete